Reviews for Alegorias del poder: crisis imperial y comedia nueva (1598-1659)

The average rating for Alegorias del poder: crisis imperial y comedia nueva (1598-1659) based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-08-06 00:00:00 Dan Whitaker A well-researched, sometimes polemical, always interesting, and deeply original approach to the "Catholic Question" in Shakespeare. The argument: yes, Shakespeare grew up in a Catholic household and was exposed to the most radical elements in English recusant culture (Thomas Campion; the Throckmorton family), BUT he himself drew back from radicalization and chose a path more akin to Montaigne and the French politiques. The biographical chapters are rich in detail, with frequent references to the plays; the literary chapters are tour de force studies in topical allusion, taken in a Foucauldian vein.

Review # 2 was written on 2015-11-24 00:00:00 Jon Caruana The description pretty much covers it all. Of the "-ly's," the predominate is "questioningly." Bevington's essays are a wonderful combination of plot synopsis and analysis. For example, his summary of Mercutio's "Queen Mab" speech in "Romeo and Juliet" clarifies that which a reader may find quite difficult to interpret. In "Hamlet," he makes a point to indicate that Ophelia's drowning is "ruled a suicide." Many critics simply skip over "ruled." Upon close reading, it appears her death is accidental. As Queen Gertrude relates: "There on the pendant (hanging) boughs her cornet (garland)weeds/Climb'ring to hang, an envious sliver (bough) broke/When down her weedy trophies and herself/Fell in the weeping brook." (4.7.173-6). All in all, this is a marvelous read for those interested in things Shakespearean.